Effects of organic loading rate and operating temperature on power generation from cassava wastewater by a single-chamber microbial fuel cell

Abstract

AbstractThis research examined the effects of organic loading rate (OLR) and operating temperature on cassava wastewater treatment and the resulting power generated by a single-chamber microbial fuel cell. The OLRs were controlled to be 0.56, 1.44, 2.79, 4.14, and 6.25 kg COD/m3 d at neutral pH 7.0. The selected operating temperatures were at normal mesophilic range at 30°C and a transition temperature range between mesophilic and thermophilic at 45°C. The maximum efficiency of COD removal achieved from the OLR at 0.56 kg COD/m3 d was 91.44 ± 0.72 and 90.72 ± 0.87% at 30 and 45°C, respectively. While the maximum power density obtained from the OLR at 6.25 kg COD/m3 d was 28.68 and 27.85 W/m3, respectively. The performance of COD removal decreases with increasing OLR. The power densities, the coulombic efficiency, and the internal resistance increases with decreasing OLR.